Program​/Project Specialist

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Temporary 6 Month Program/Project Specialist Position Description

Title:

Temporary 6 Month Program/Project Specialist
Job code: 1897
Employee Group: AFSCME Clerical
Full/Part Time (FTE): 1.00
Regular/Temporary:
Temporary (6 months)
About the Job:
Location and Work environment:
This position works in-person on the Twin Cities campus.

Work Schedule:

The normal work schedule for this position is weekdays, Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm. This position is eligible for overtime and holiday pay.

Primary Responsibilities:

15% Support Pre-Go-Live & Final Launch Activities

• Support researcher training sessions by capturing comprehensive, structured notes to identify user questions, pain points, and knowledge gaps.
• Assist in the creation and initial refinement of project Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) based on feedback and training outcomes.
• Create, coordinate, and place facility signage, including developing slide decks for digital displays to build awareness and share key timeline updates.
• Perform accurate, high-volume data entry directly in the ARCH SaaS environment to ensure system readiness before the formal launch.
• Support logistical preparations in the facilities by assisting with cage card printing, sorting, and distribution.

25% Provide Go-Live & Hypercare Support

• Actively monitor go-live events, including having a physical presence in vivarium spaces to assist researchers and RAR staff.
• Provide immediate, on-the-spot triage by directing technical and administrative questions to the appropriate subject matter experts or technical teams.
• Routinely update and refine existing FAQs to document and address emerging questions or edge cases during the hypercare window.
• Assist in updating guides and training resources.
• Suggest and assist in creating new user resources, including user-friendly how-to guides, brief training videos, and highly digestible one-page reference sheets.
• Coordinate the swift physical and digital distribution of new resources directly to the vivarium facilities.
• Provide responsive administrative backup to ensure primary department workflows remain uninterrupted during the system switch-over.

60% Support Post-Hypercare Stabilization & Optimization

• Continue to refine, categorize, and expand the project FAQ database as user adoption matures and workflows stabilize.
• Ensure all ARCH training and reference resources (documents and videos) comply with digital accessibility standards, including writing and editing closed captions and video transcripts.
• Assist in creating a centralized ARCH resource website, collaborating directly with RAR’s Internal Communication & Outreach Specialist and the RIO Webmaster.
• Provide seamless backup support for core administrative workflows, contributing ideas for continuous refinement and process improvement.
• Coordinate ongoing researcher training activities, including scheduling, hosting, and managing webinars, capturing session notes, and updating central FAQs based on webinar feedback.
• Support technical transition efforts by coordinating activities related to onboarding research labs to the Transnetyx Colony connector.
• Support post-launch upgrade cycles by documenting requirements as actionable project tasks, assigning tasks to responsible team members with realistic due dates, and actively following up to ensure timely completion.

Required Qualifications:

• High School Diploma/GED and five years of related experience to include project management.
• Perform responsibilities with a high level of discretion, integrity, and confidentiality.
• Demonstrated experience handling a wide range of administrative-related tasks with a commitment to professionalism.
• Highly organized with attention to detail.
• Proficient with Zoom and Google suite.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to work collaboratively with diverse audiences.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment to provide support in a professional manner, meet deadlines, multi-task, and prioritize projects.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Administrative experience in Research Animal Resources.
• Knowledge of RAR animal care operations.
• Demonstrated ability to work with and adapt to new technologies and processes with minimal direction.

Research Animal Resources (RAR) provides the University of Minnesota research community with animal care, procurement services, veterinary knowledge, and maintenance of housing facilities for animal-related research activities. The position of Animal Care Lead is part of a staff of over 150 employees including Professional and Administrative staff, Civil Service staff, and Union Represented members. RAR has a daily census of 24,000 rodent cages in 20 buildings split into 7 geographic teams around the Twin Cities Campus.

Pay Range: $25.78/hr-$28..40/hr; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Time Appointment

Work Profile: This position has been designated as Work…